Packaging-machine.



M. L. KEYES.

PAOKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION Hum mm 2, 1906.

Patented May 11, 1909.

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M. L. KEYES.

PAGKAGING MACHINE.

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Patented May 11, 1909.

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M. L. KEYES.

PACKAGING MACHINE.

,256' APPLIGATION FILED JUKEQ, 1906. Patented May 11' 3 SHEETB-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN L. KEYES, OF FAIRFIELD, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO KEYES FIBRE COMPANY, OF SHAW- MUT, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PACKAGING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 2, 1906.

Patented May 11, 1909.

Serial No. 819,833.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN L. Knrns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fairfield, in the county of Somerset and State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Packaging-Machines, of whch the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a machine for bundling articles, and is es ecially designed for use in utting up pac ages of pulp or paper pie p ates and similar articles. Such articles when ut up b, the use of this machine are stacked in pi es or rolls of the de sired number, as five hundred, wrapped in heavy paper, and tied with twine running longitudinally and transversely around the pile or roll. Plates or similar articles when packed in such a package are easily handled and take the minimum amount of room; the packaging materials are cheap and light and the whole package presents the most satisfacto form for ship ing purposes. In bundling plates and simi ar artlcles into such a package it is necessary that the pile or roll should be compacted as much as ossible so as the bundle will occupy the smallest space possible, and also retain its sha e and not contract under pressure or handhng to allow the plates or other articles to become released from the covering.

The machine of the resent invention is designed to take the p ates or similar articles in a loose pile or stack, aline them, compact them into a firm, solid roll, and retain them in this condition until the paper or Wrapping material has been placed around them, and the binding twine placed around the roll lon itudinally one, two or more times, and rml tied to retain them in their compacted orrn.

The construction of the machine whereby theseends are secured as embodied in the referred form of the invention will be seen rom the accompanying specification and drawin s, and the invention will be more particuarly pointed out in the appended claims.

The drawings represent the preferred form of the machine which has been devised embodying the invention, the se arate ends of the machine being shown wit the na e 55 diate' portion broken away.

'in its longitudinal adjustment.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a reduced perspective view of the pile or roll of pie plates in its bundled form read for shipping; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of tfie up or portion of the right-hand end of the mac e, partly in crosssection and showing the end plates of a pile or roll in position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the up er portion of the left-hand end of the macliine showing a few of the plates at the opposite end of the roll in osition; Fig. 4 is a face view of the rightand end showing the bundling strings or cords in position before the pile or roll of plates is placed in the machine; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the upper portion of the right-hand end of the machine.

The supporting standard of the machine comprises a bed portion A extending longitudinally and of any desired len th determined in general by the len th of t e rolls or packages to be formed in t e machine, and supporting legs A therefor oppositel disposed at each end of the bed and olted thereto by the bolts A.

A pair of o positely disposed longitudinally adjustab e head supports are mounted upon the bed at each end thereof. The

'ri ht-hand head su port B has a depending ri B fitting in a ongitudinal groove A in the bed whereby the head support is guided The head support is clamped in position by a bolt B extending through a transverse recess in the bottom of the head sup ort and rovided with o positely dispose clam b ocks B bevele as indicated in Fig. 5 a ove and below the clamping bolt to engage corresponding bevels on the base of t e head sup ort and the top of the bed. The clam ing olt B is rovided with a handle B w ereby it may e tightened up and the head support may thus be adjusted and locked in its adjusted osition longitudinally of the bed. The 1e -hand head su port C is similarly constructed and capabe of similar adjustment and locking in adjusted position as illustrated in Fig. 3, and it is therefore not necessary to again describe the details of the construction.

The right-hand head su port carries the head D, which as illustrate in Fig. 4 may be of a skeleton-like form and is herein shown as conforming to the exterior surface of the pie plate. The particular form which thehead shall take depends upon the form of the arti- 110 cles forming the pile or roll. The head is provided with intersecting grooves D, D", of a number corresponding to the number of cords which are to be passed longitudinally around the roll or pile and herein shown as two. These rooves must be suifioiently deep so that W on the head is pressed against the pile the cords can be moved freely therethrough and tied tightly around the ile.

The head D has a projecting journa or pin I) by which it is loosely mounted in the end of the shaft D. The head D may therefore be readily removed and replaced with a head of any desired size or configuration according to the articles to be packaged.

The shaft D is keyed by the key D and the 'oove D to the longitudinal arm B of the ead support, and is slid back and forth therein carrying the head D by means of the screw D" operated by the hand-wheel D By these means the head D may be forced toward the opposite head to compact the pile of plates or other articles, the hand- Wheel 'and screw allowing of great pressure being produced u on the pile.

The opposite .h ead E is constructed in similar but complemental form to that of the head 1), and need not be further described. Its projecting journal or pin E is shown as mounted directly in the arm C of the sup porting head C, because under ordinary circumstances there is no need of providing for the screw feed of both heads, but such construction could be duplicated if desired in connection with the head E.

The number of grooves in the face of the heads is dependent upon the number of longitudinal strands of bundling cord to be passed longitudinally of the bundle. Under some circumstances one might be sufficient, but two are preferred because the bundle is then held securely. The grooves should referably be in the faces of both heads to alow of the drawin of the cords tightly and prevent the cords icing forced into the bun dle at the ends, but it is obvious that the advantages of this feature of the invention may be secured by having but one head grooved, it being possible to tlghten up the cords and tie the bundles secure y even if they be held from. movement at one end of the machine, and the claims are not to be construed as limiting the invention in this respect.

The pile or roll of plates or other articles is supported in proper alinemen't with the heads by means of a pair of supporting bars F. These supporting bars are arranged to support the plates or other articles at two widely separated points so that the articles are held in pro r alinement with the axis of the heads. T e are made simultaneously adjustable in sue a manner that theyalways parallel with the :axis of the heads but move toward and from theaxis on subsmtislily radial lines so (that whatever the diameter or size of the articles may be they are so ported at two similar or symmetrically disposed points. One feature of the present invention consists in providing for the adiiustment of these supporting bars so that p ates or other articles of various configuration and size may be ackaged upon the same machine. It will be seen that if these supporting bars be moved toward and from the center of the heads and held in their adjusted position the range of the machine as to the size and configuration of the articles to be bundled or packaged is practically unlimited.

At each end of the bed of the standard are provided upright frame plates G and H respectively. The frame late G at the right-hand side of the mac ine is provided with two pairs of concentrically arranged slots G, G A pair of segmental plates G, G are movably su ported-upon the frame plate G .and guided in their movement by olts G G respectively extending into said concentric slots. A similar pair of segmental plates, one of which is indicated at H in Fig. 3 are mounted upon the frame plate H in similar manner at the left-hand side of the machine.

The su porting bars F, herein shown as hollow to es or cylinders, to secure proper size and strength extend lon itudinally of the machine and are firmly olted to the op ositely alined segmental plates by the b0 ts F. These central plates carrying the supporting bars are arranged to move on the arc of a circle and the path of movement of each bar is therefore slightly curved, but it is arranged tangential with a line radial from the axis of the heads so that the movement of each supportin of the axis of t e heads and consequently is symmetrically positioned on the bars with respect to the articles to be supported whatever tlfeir size or diameter.

As a referred and suitable means for providing or the adjustment of the supporting bars'the construction herein illustrated has been designed. Both segmental plates at both ends of the machine are provided with segmental toothed racks indicated at the right-hand side of the machine in Fig. 5, as G, G Pairs of intermeshing gears, one of which also intermeshes with each of the segmental racks, are located at both ends of the machine, those at the right-hand end being indicated as K and K, and one of those at the lefthand end being indicated as K One of each of the pair of gears at each side of the machine is mounted upon the shaft K extending len thwise through the machine, the other member of each pair being mounted upon short trunnions or-bearingsK, K in the frame iplates G, H. The shaft K atthe right-hand end of the machine is provided with a crank handleK and this hmudleihais baris substantially radial porting bars toward and from the axis of the heads, and that the parts may be looked in ad'usted position by screwing up the locking be t K" in the curved slot K".

The machineis Sl'lONll with. the supporting; burs F, l in their lowermost.- posit-ion aidjusted for the lnrggst size of plate or other article. to be bundled on the machine. such plates being; indicated :it l1, and in Figs. 4 and 5 the supporting: burn are indicated in dotted lines 2 in a position much nearer the axis of the heads to support :1 small sized piste or article also indicuted in dotted lines as if. it bein understood. the t the heads will be. rho. d if found necessary to correspond with t. e voidi 'urntion and shape of the smaller plates or articles to be bundled.

in the operation of the machine as. herein illustrated the workmmi will first by means of the crank l'nindle K" and the locking: bolt K." adjust the. anipporting bars to thei proper position relatively' to the center of the hood and lock them in that position. 'lhe hood supports will also be ae usted by means of the bolts B and. their operating handles into the proper longitudinal position on the bed to provide for the ready insertion of the roll or pile. of )lntos or other articles between the heads and then looked in position. A. sheet of paper or other wrapping material will then be laid across the supporting bars and the roll or pile of plates or other articles laid on the paper on the supporting bars between the heads. Proper heads will be inserted in the. head supports, the cord or wrapping twine will be placed longitudinally of the roll underneath the paper, through the grooves in the heads, and. then the hand wheel D" will be turned to bring theheads together with. great power com reusing and compacting the pile or roll. "he aper or other material Wlll then be wrap ie around the roll or pile and the cord tied firmly longitudinally of the roll or pile while in its com pressed or com )actcd condition. 'Ihe cord will then. be tie circumierentiallv of the roll or pile, but the roll or pile may be. removed from the machine when this 1s done if desired because the longitudinal strands Will hold it in its com ressed or compacted. condition. The bunc le when finished will present the appearance substantially as shown in Fig. 1 and presents the desired form of packa e.

Whi e various mechanisms herein illustrn ted and described are. in themselves novel and particularly well adapted to the prcl'erred form of mmstructiou embodying the invention, yet the invoi'itioi'i in its broad aspect is not limited to the nirticulur incohnnisin shown, but our) be embodied in vii-- 'rious niechnnii-nl ronstruclions for securing the some end.

llnvinp; described my invention, \\'ll1ll I claim as new and desire to secure by iii-11ers letcnt, in:

l. A bundling nnicliine comprising; iistnndnrd, n pair of oppositely disposed l'ioi'i'mlnitelly nlined bends mounted thereon, grooves in the lnces of said heads to receive the bundling! cords, menus for forcing-J; one hood toward the other. disposed supporting: bars bone-nth ooid heads to receive and hold the articles to be l'iundled, and menus for simultaneously raising and lowering said supporting bars witl'iout substantially relying; their angular distance with rrw-zpoet. to the axis of said heads whereby articles of various (.liomoters may be iii-ml supported and brought into elineinent with the heads.

2. A bundling machine comprising a stainlard, a pair oi oppositely disposed horizontally alined heads, a pair of longitudinnlly disposed supporting bars beneath said heads to receive and hold the articles to be bundled. pairs of movable end plates mounted on said standard at each end and carrying said supporting bars, means for moving said end lat-cs simultoneously, and means for guiding said end plates to carry the bars in their movement parallel to and substantially radial of the axis of alinement of said heads.

3. A bundling machine comprising a standard, a pair of oppositely disposed horizontally almed head sup orts mounted thereon, heads mounted in said supports, grooves in the faces of said heads to receive the bundling cords, means for forcing one head upon and with relation to its support toward the other, a pair of longitudinally disposed suporting bars beneath said heads to receive and hold. the articles to be bundled, and

means for simultaneously raising and lowering said supporting bars without substantially varying their angular distance with respect to the axis of said heads whereby articles of various diameters may be firml supported and brought into a-li'nement with the heads.

4. A bundling machine comprising a standard, a pair of oppositely disposed horizontally aimed head supports mounted thereon, heads mounted in said supports, grooves in the faces of said heads to receive the bundling cords, means for forcing one head upon and with relation to its su iport toward the other, a. air of longitudina y disposed supporting are beneath said heads to receive and hold the articles to be bundled, means n. pen of loi'igitudinnll till for simultaneously raising and lowering said supporting bars without substantially var ing their angular distance with respect to t ie axis of said heads whereby articles of various diameters may be firmly supported and brought into alinement with the heads, and means for locking the supportirur bars in their adjusted position.

5. A bundling machine comprising a standard, a pair of oppositely disymsed horizontally ained and longitudinally adjustable head supports mounted thereon, heads mounted in said supports, grooves in the laces of said heads to receive the bundling cords, means for forcing one head on and with relation to its su port toward the other to compress the bond nally disposed supporting bars bencat .1 said heads to receive and hold the articles to be bundled, and means for simultaneously raisin and lowering the supporting bars without so stantially varying their angular distance with respect to the axis ol said heads.

6. A bundling machine comprising a standard, a air of oppositely disposed horizontally ahned heads mounted on said standard, means for forcin one head toward the other to compress the bundle, a pair 01' lonwitudinally disposed supporting bars beneath said headsto receive and hold the articles to be le, a pair of Ion itudibundled, pairs of segmental plates at each end of the machine carrying the supporting bars, and provided with segmental toothed racks, pairs of intermeshing gears at each end of the machine, the members of each pair of gears intermeshing with the pairs of segmental plates, means for rotating simultaneously one gear of each pair to raise or lower the supporting bars as desired into proper alinement.

7. A bundling machine comprising a standard, a pair of oppositely disposed head so ports mounted therein, heads mounted in said sup 'iorts, grooves in the faces of said heads to receive the bundling cords, means for l'orcing one head toward the other to compress the bundle, a pair of 1011 itudinally disposed supporting bars beneati said heads to receive and hold the articles to be bundled,

' pairs of segmental dates at each end of the machine carrying t 1e supporting bars, and provided withsegmental toothed racks, pairs of intermeshing gears at each. end of the machine, the members of each pair of gears intermeshing with the members of the segmental plates, means for rotating simultaneously one gear of each pair to raise or lower the supporting bars as desired into proper alinement, means for locking the supporting bars in their alined position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NATHAN HEARD, MABEL PARTELOW 

